Aqueous dispersion containing liposomes

Abstract

A process is described for the production of aqueous dispersions involving removal of liquid(s) from an optionally multiphase liquid mixture by means of membrane distillation, e.g., transmembrane distillation or pervaporation.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An aqueous dispersion comprising an aqueous dispersion medium, liposomes, and iopromide encapsulated in said liposomes, wherein said dispersion is prepared by removing an organic solvent from a liquid mixture of an aqueous phase and an organic solvent, said solvent having liposome-forming compounds contained therein, by means of membrane distillation. 
     
     
       2. An aqueous dispersion according to claim 1, wherein said dispersion further contains inorganic or organic salts or buffers, monosaccharides, disaccharides, sugar alcohols, or water-soluble polymers. 
     
     
       3. An aqueous dispersion according to claim 2, wherein said dispersion further contains sodium chloride, phosphate buffer, citrate buffer, glycine buffer, citrate-phosphate buffer, maleate buffer, glucose, lactose, sucrose, mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, glycerol, dextran, or polyethylene glycol. 
     
     
       4. An aqueous dispersion according to claim 1, wherein said dispersion further contains an anti-oxidant. 
     
     
       5. An aqueous dispersion according to claim 4, wherein said anti-oxidant is sodium ascorbate, tocopherol, or sodium hydrogen sulfite. 
     
     
       6. An aqueous dispersion according to claim 1, wherein said dispersion further contains a sphingomyelin, a plasmalogen, a phosphatidylcholine, a phosphatidylethanolamine, a phosphatidylserine, a phosphatidylinositol, or a cardiolipin. 
     
     
       7. An aqueous dispersion according to claim 6, wherein said dispersion further contains cholesterol. 
     
     
       8. An aqueous dispersion according to claim 6, wherein said dispersion further contains a charge carrier selected from the group consisting of stearylamine, stearic acid, or diacetylphosphate. 
     
     
       9. An aqueous dispersion according to claim 6, wherein said dispersion contains 0.1-40 wt % phospholipid or phospholipid mixture based on the total aqueous phase. 
     
     
       10. An aqueous dispersion according to claim 7, wherein said dispersion contains up to 60 wt. % cholesterol. 
     
     
       11. An aqueous dispersion according to claim 8, wherein said dispersion contains up to 15 wt % of said charge carrier.